News and information for staff members and the Madison community
Vol. III No. 5 - May 2, 2008
The entire student body at one school walked to Warner Park to plant trees and clean up, other MMSD students worked on school gardens, while still others participated in a "Going Green" science fair focused on conservation and recycling and even sang an original rap entitled, "Pollution Solution." These are just a few of the Earth Day-related activities around the MMSD this month.
For the 15th consecutive year celebrating Earth Day, Lake View ES students walked the half mile to Warner Park, this year planting white swamp oaks to protect the creek from parking lot runoff. The school's 270 students also picked up litter in the 180 acre park. Mayor Dave, Maynard, the Mallard's mascot, and other city officials joined the students at the park for a brief ceremony prior to the plantings.
Van Hise ES held their Annual Science Night event on April 22nd, with a "Going Green" theme. Projects focused on recycling, conservation, and solving energy and earth-related problems. Students in John Christopherson's 2/3 classroom performed their original rap, "Pollution Solution." Christopherson's classroom has been selling copies of their CD to make money for the rebuilding of Greensburg, KS, a tornado-ravaged town that is trying to rebuild and be the first entirely green community. Hamilton MS Earth Club also participated in the science night event.
Toki MS celebrates the earth annually in April. All Toki 7th graders visit Madison sewage treatment, landfill, and restore sites. Academic staff plan cross-curricular activities geared toward the understanding of the need in our community for these services and how an individual's/community's waste affects our earth. As the weather improves, students will be working in the Toki/Orchard Ridge School Forest to remove invasive species and learn how these affect Wisconsin's native plants.
Before the end of the school year, students will work with Thomas Wilke, McKay Nursery Co., on planting some trees on the grounds. Rollin Darst, Toddle-In Nursery of McFarland, is donating a dwarf shrub to Toki for planting.
Prior to the end of the school year, teacher Jody Lee-Lampe and arborist Corey George will work with 4th and 5th grade students to plant five trees around Shorewood Hills ES. This is the third year the team has worked together in this effort.
Some trees are planted in a specific area because of their added benefits such as providing shade, fall color, spring flowers, or year-round greenery. Some trees are planted to replace older ones that are diseased or close to the end of their typical lifespan. Types and varieties of trees are selected based upon their growth habits and the purposes they will serve. Students dig holes for all the trees, refill the holes with dirt after the trees are in place, mulch the base of each tree, and water the trees regularly until summer break.
Hawthorne ES students completed service projects outside the school and in the surrounding neighborhood, cleaning trash, working in the school gardens and other activities. Students also gathered next to the school's gardens to perform songs and skits and read poems.
Hawthorne ES students raked their gardens.
Hawthorne 1st grade teacher Stacey Hodkiewicz and her students examine a seed.
Hawthorne students celebrated Earth Day with an open mike, singing songs, performing skits and reading poems.
Last Updated: Thu May 22 15:05:51 2008
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